Thursday, September 4, 2014

This classic Dick Clark vinyl radio program from August, 1988 features the “best
music ever” and that description is damn near right. This 4 hour spectacular
features a spotlight on my favorite band, PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS,
including interviews with Paul Revere and singer Mark Lindsay. Dick Clark was
responsible for making the Raiders stars by signing them up to his “Where The
Action Is” TV show and they reminisce together and play all the great RAIDERS
hits. You will also hear music and interviews with ELTON JOHN, BEE GEES, DONOVAN,
CHUCK BERRY, THE TEMPTATIONS, BOBBY RYDELL (with the original version of “Kissin’
Time,” later covered by KISS) and many more from the 50’s to the 70’s. Plus, there are great commercials and jingles throughout including
a few different J.C. Penney spots that I would bet hard-earned money that it’s
Mark Lindsay himself, singing and doing the voiceover (first one is 7 minutes into Side 2 on Hour 1). Lindsay was very
successful as a radio jingle singer after his Raider career and these examples are
the latest that I’ve found for my vinyl collection. Also, The Rascals (or at
least Felix Cavaliere) do “Good Lovin’” for Dr. Pepper and James Ingram for Maxwell House!

By popular demand--originally published on my blog in 2010, these are brand-new needledrops of these classic WB DJ albums available via Dropbox.Starting
with this release in 1969, Warner Brothers Records had the genius idea of “Loss
Leaders” albums which were promotional 2 LP sets that were only available
through the mail and for only $2. What you got was a double concept album of
various new releases on the WB label and their subsidiaries which served as a
sampler of sounds and also a way to introduce listeners to new artists on the
label’s roster.

The liner notes inside the gatefold cover say it so much better:

“WHAT WE
HAVE HERE, to be out front about it, are some of our favorite records by 23 of
the artists currently recording for Warner Bros.-Seven Arts and Reprise
Records. We have put this double album together not only for our
enjoyment-since it includes worthy singles that never made it commercially as
well as tracks from current albums, music by Van Dyke Parks for a Datsun
television commercial, and as yet unreleased cuts by Jimi Hendrix and The
Electric Prunes—but hopefully to win new friends for some very creative people.

The Sinatras, the Dean
Martins, the Pet Clarks have their own songbooks. This one is for those of you
who may never have heard of Van Morrison but remember “Brown Eyed Girl.” Who
are interested to know that Jethro Tull and The Pentangle are both outselling
Sammy Davis Jr. Who dig The Mothers of Invention and are wondering what Frank
Zappa is up to now.

If there’s anything else
you’d like to know, about the artists represented here or, for that matter, any
of the talent on the Warner/Reprise labels, we invite you to write directly to
our Creative Services department, at 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California
91503. Or, if you prefer, pick up the phone and call us—Stan Cornyn, Hal
Halverstadt, or Don Schmitzerle—at (213) 843-5115.”

What
strikes me is the impressive list of diverse artists on all of these LPs with
nothing in common except they were all artists making GOOD music. The reality
that the music business of that time is dead and will never be like this again
is sad and disappointing. Can you imagine a major label these days giving out
their telephone number of the Creative Services department to people who spent
$2 on one of their samplers? And will there EVER be TRULY GREAT music again
from REAL artists signed by a label who just wants them to MAKE MUSIC? Is there
ANY music out there these days that you would EVER CARE ENOUGH to pick up the
phone and make a call to a record label for more info about one of their
artists? NEVER will there be a major record label like Warner Brothers of the
‘60’s and ‘70’s. Hell, soon there might not even be any major record labels at
all.

These
“Loss Leaders” LPs really are COOL albums that have the perfect amount of
familiar and unfamiliar. I mean, you get lots of Zappa, The Everly Brothers, Beach
Boys, The Kinks, Neil Young along with rare b-sides, unreleased tracks and
things I’ve always wanted to hear like Van Dyke Parks, Family, Tiny Tim and all
in a psychedelic radio style with deluxe gatefold covers and booklets full of
information. The GTO’s even pose for the cover photos on the first one!

I’ve collected a bunch of them and I’m posting the first 2 releases here in
their entirety because I thought you might enjoy listening to them too.

Another LP set I have in my collection features Casey's American Top 40 from February 14, 1981. Interesting to think
that John Lennon was murdered less than 2 months before this (and his chart
positions reflect this). Even though it’s not as good as the 1974 countdown, it’s
a fun listen and another tribute to a great voice of our time.

About Me

My name is Jim Wilson and I just released my first solo album...ON VINYL! I also play with DANIEL LANOIS & BLACK DUB, MOTHER SUPERIOR and SPARKS.
This is a new blog to promote my own music and music that I am involved with as well as share some rarities with friends.